Are They the Same Game? - Play Free

Quick Answer: "Solitaire" and "patience" refer to the same category of single-player card games. "Patience" is the traditional British English term; "solitaire" is the American English term. The games are identical — there are no rule differences based on the name. The naming divergence happened gradually during the 19th and 20th centuries as the games spread from Europe to North America.

One of the most common questions about card games — particularly among players who travel internationally or encounter English-language card game books from different countries — is whether "solitaire" and "patience" are the same thing. The short answer is yes. But the longer answer involves an interesting bit of linguistic and cultural history that reveals how card games crossed the Atlantic and acquired different names along the way.

The Simple Answer: Same Games, Different Names

"Solitaire" (American English) and "Patience" (British English) both refer to the same category: single-player card games. Every game called "patience" in the United Kingdom has an equivalent "solitaire" label in the United States:

| British name | American equivalent | |---|---| | Klondike Patience | Klondike Solitaire | | Spider Patience | Spider Solitaire | | Freecell Patience | FreeCell Solitaire | | La Belle Lucie | La Belle Lucie (same) | | Demon Patience | Canfield Solitaire | | Clock Patience | Clock Solitaire |

The rules are identical regardless of which name is used. A British patience book describing "Klondike" follows exactly the same rules as an American solitaire guide describing "Klondike." The geographical naming difference is purely terminological.

Where Did "Patience" Come From?

The term "patience" for single-player card games appears in French card game literature first. The French word patience (meaning patience, forbearance, or the quality of waiting calmly) was applied to solitary card games in France as early as the late 18th century. This makes sense etymologically — these games often require careful, deliberate play, and many games involve waiting for the right card to appear.

The earliest documented use of "patience" for card games in French literature dates to around 1780–1800. The term was well-established in French by the time card game books began systematically documenting patience games in the 1840s and 1850s.

British adoption of the French term was natural — French cultural influence in Britain was substantial in the 18th and 19th centuries, and card games frequently traveled with French names intact. Lady Adelaide Cadogan's foundational 1874 book Illustrated Games of Patience was one of the first major English-language patience compendia and used the British/French term throughout.

The [Wikipedia patience article](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Patience_(game) provides detailed historical documentation of the term's evolution across languages.

Where Did "Solitaire" Come From?

"Solitaire" in American English comes from the same French root — solitaire meaning solitary or alone. In French, "solitaire" was sometimes used for these single-player games, though "patience" was more common. American English, which developed separately from British English during the 19th century, adopted "solitaire" more widely.

The word "solitaire" also historically described other solitary activities: a type of peg game (the wooden solitaire peg puzzle), certain jewelry settings, and even birds that lived alone. The card game adoption of "solitaire" in American English appears to have solidified by the late 19th century, as American newspapers and game books began using it consistently.

When Microsoft bundled Solitaire with Windows 3.0 in 1990, the "solitaire" branding was enshrined for an entire generation of American (and global) computer users. Today, "solitaire" is the dominant term worldwide in digital contexts, even in countries that traditionally used "patience."

Does the Name Affect the Rules?

No. The name "patience" versus "solitaire" carries no rule implications. A game called "Patience" in a British book has the same rules as its "Solitaire" equivalent in an American book.

However, some specific game names do differ between British and American traditions:

| British Name | American Name | |---|---| | Demon | Canfield | | Cribbage Patience | (less common in US) | | Miss Milligan | (rare in US) | | Patience (general) | Solitaire (general) |

These name differences reflect the independent development of card game traditions on both sides of the Atlantic, not rule differences. For comprehensive game listings, the [Wikipedia Solitaire Resource](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Patience_(game) documents hundreds of named games with their regional name variants.

Other Solitaire Terminology Differences

Beyond the "patience" vs. "solitaire" distinction, several other terms differ by region:

• "Tableau" (both regions use this French term for the main card layout)
• "Foundation" (both regions — for the suits' building piles)
• "Stock" (British often say "talon" from French)
• "Waste pile" (British may say "wastepile" or just "waste")

Our solitaire card terminology guide covers all the standard terms and their meanings.

Modern Usage

In 2026, "solitaire" dominates global usage in digital contexts because Microsoft's Windows Solitaire brand reached billions of users worldwide. British players typically also use "solitaire" when discussing digital versions. "Patience" persists in British English for physical card games and in academic contexts (card game scholars typically use "patience" regardless of nationality).

Australian and Canadian English generally follow British terminology, using "patience," though digital influence from American platforms has made "solitaire" widely understood everywhere.

For players in the United States, "solitaire" is the term they will encounter almost universally. For UK players or those reading classic card game books, "patience" is the expected term for the same games.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is solitaire the same as patience?

Yes. Solitaire and patience refer to exactly the same category of single-player card games. "Patience" is the traditional British English term derived from French; "solitaire" is the American English term. There are no rule differences between a game called "patience" and the same game called "solitaire." The naming difference is purely geographical and historical.

Why do British people call solitaire "patience"?

British English adopted the French term "patience" for single-player card games in the late 18th or early 19th century. France was a major cultural influence in Britain, and many card games arrived from France with French names. Lady Adelaide Cadogan's influential 1874 book Illustrated Games of Patience helped establish the term in British usage. The word "patience" reflects the careful, deliberate nature of these solitary card games.

When did Americans start calling patience "solitaire"?

American English began using "solitaire" for single-player card games during the 19th century, as the term — also derived from French — became more common in American publications. The adoption was gradual, with "solitaire" becoming the standard American term by the late 1800s. Microsoft's Windows Solitaire (1990) cemented the term globally for digital players.

Are there any patience games that are not called solitaire?

In British English, all single-player card games may be called "patience" as a category term. Some specific games are known by proper names in both traditions: Klondike, FreeCell, Spider, Pyramid, La Belle Lucie, etc. A few games are called "patience" as their specific name (like "Miss Milligan's Patience"), which can create confusion — but these are just historical naming conventions, not rule distinctions.

Does playing patience and playing solitaire involve different skills?

No. Since patience and solitaire are the same games, they develop identical skills. The cognitive benefits — pattern recognition, planning, focus, sequential reasoning — apply equally regardless of whether you call the game by its British or American name. See our solitaire cognitive benefits article for research on these benefits.

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💡 Comparative Verdict Update (2026)

Analytical reviews show that transitioning from Klondike to Spider or Yukon builds superior decision-tree logic, while FreeCell offers the highest rate of completely solvable deals for tactical players.